2005-2006 Fontbonne Hall Academy

Religion II: Life in Christ I Trimester I

Miss Maryann DeLuca Study Guide I

Course Overview and Objectives

This course on Catholic morality was designed to be in conformity with the National Doctrinal Guidelines for High School. Still in draft form, the doctrinal guidelines as proposed by the United States Bishops’ Committee on Catechesis, will “provide for a uniform national curriculum …that is a Christ-centered catechetical initiative intended to have the student encounter the living Lord as he is found in the Church, in the Word of God and in the sacramental life of the Church, most particularly, the Eucharist. In this encounter, the student (one) also embraces the Christ who calls us to live out our faith in service to others and in the acceptance of his way as the norm for our life’s activities.” Furthermore, the text used in this course includes a presentation of Catholic morality as taught in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, (CCC) Part 3, entitled “Life in Christ.” In addition, students will view and discuss PBS’ Religion & Ethics Newsweekly. By heightening a student’s awareness of the world around her, she will be able to critically formulate and intelligently articulate her position on a multiplicity of moral, ethical, religious and social justice issues—and on multi-levels—i.e., individual, community, national, global, and universal which will be the focus of the second trimester’s course—Life in Christ II.

Media & Resources

Text: Your Life in Christ—Foundations of Catholic Morality, Michael Pennock

Web Sites: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/ Religion & Ethics Newsweekly

http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm: Catechism of the Catholic Church

http://www.catholic.net/RCC/Indices/subs/by-subject.html : Catholic Documents

http://www.shc.edu/theolibrary/ : Theology Library

Videos: “John Q” “Romance Without Regret” “Where the Heart Is”

Program: The Taking Sides Program, Dushkin

Section 1: Introduction—Living a Moral Life_ _____________________ Cycles 1-2__

The first and last point of reference of Catholic Christian morality is Jesus Christ himself, who is “the way, and the truth, and the life” (CCC, 1698). Morality involves seeking out Jesus and his teaching and learning from him.

Section Objectives

• Name two essential steps of Catholic Christian morality: to approach and learn from Jesus and to put his teachings into practice;
• Learn a basic definition of morality;
• Realize that morality involves responsibility and that responsibility requires us to make use of our freedom and intelligence and to make use of other things which enable us to respond to God;
• Understand that character is really who we are and who we are becoming thro our choices and actions;
• See virtues as the heart of moral life that empower us to become what God wants us to be;
• Understand the nine steps necessary for living a moral life that will be the focus of this text.

Learning Activities_ ________________________________Assignments___________

Reading, View Religion & Ethics Newsweekly Text pp. 9-29

Teacher Presentations, Small Group Work Personalize Journal

Living a Moral Life Journaling Research: CCC, 2044-2046

B. She Said Yes: An Unlikely Martyrdom www.columbine-memorial.org

C. Character and Virtue Essay: What riches must you D. Nine Steps for Living a Moral Life give up in order “to be perfect?” Creative Learning: Create a collage

That depicts the goodness and evil of the human condition.

Section 2: The Gift of Being Human___ __________________ _ Cycles 3-4

Of all God’s creatures, only humans are able to know and love God. With our humanness comes a profound dignity that gives us immense worth and value. Respect for human dignity is a cornerstone of morality and Christian ethics.

Section Objectives

• Learn some concrete ways to be themselves;
• Understand some of the profound gifts and responsibilities that come from being made in God’s image;
• Assert the fundamental goodness of human beings, who despite original sin are given the gift of God’s own Son so that everyone might have eternal life;
• Understand truths about people and their relationship to society as presented in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, including the principles of subsidiarity and solidarity.

Learning Activities_________________________ _________Assignments__________

Readings, Journaling, Teacher Presentations Text pp. 31-53

A. Humans Are Made in the Divine Image CCC, 355-384; 1701-1703

B. Human Dignity and Our Spiritual Nature Essay: “How Do I View Humanity?”

C. The Social Nature of Humans Human Rights Web:

D. Humans are Wounded by Sin http://www.hrweb.org/

Analysis of Case Study Creative Learning Project:

Review for Sections 1 & 2 Test Brainstorm ideas for on going Environmental project

Test: Sections 1 & 2

Section 3: Making Moral Decisions________________________________ __ Cycles 5-6_

Christians need a decision-making process for making moral decisions. A method known as S-T-O-P will be introduced. An examination of the Ignatian method of discernment will also be examined.

Section Objectives

• To continue to think about the challenge and importance of making right decisions;
• Understand prudence as “right reason in action”;
• Learn the four steps of a moral decision-making process.

Learning Activities_______________________________________Assignments___________

Readings, multi-media, journaling, case analysis Text pp. 55-77; CCC, 1750

A. Right Reason in Action Research: Quotations that describe right

B. Search Out the Facts and Think reason and prudence.

C. Others and Pray Research:“A Guide to Moral Decision-Making”—

http://www.ethics.ubc.ca/

D. Student Presentations Creative Learning: “My Advisor” p. 72.

E. Review for Test Prepare Oral Reports on the person who embodies positive qualities, including at

least one short story that reveals the person’s character.

Test: Section 3

Section 4: Law As a Guide to Freedom______________________________ Cycles 7-8

God created humans with dignity and conferred on them the ability to initiate and control his or her actions. As St.Irenaeus put it, “Man is rational and therefore like God; he is created with free will and is master of his own acts.”

Section Objectives

· Understand freedom as a gift from God that allows humans to direct themselves toward goodness;

· Consider limits and impediments to our freedom;

· Gain information on how various types of law impact morality: natural law, civil law, the old Law, the new Law of Christ, and church law.

Learning Activites_______________________________Assignments_____________

Reading, Guest Speaker (Lawyer) Text pp. 79-101

A. Freedom and Responsibility CCC, 1730-1749

B. Responsibility Reflection: “To me, freedom is…

C. Law and Morality Creative Learning: Compose your own

D. Section Test ethical code to live by modeled on the one by Gene Autry in “Gene Autry’s Cowboy

Code” at http://courses.cs.vt.edu/

Read Pope John Paul II, Veritatis Splendor at http://www.firstthings.com/ftissues/ft9508/dulles.html

Be prepared to discuss this seminal encyclical arguing for an objective morality.

Fontbonne Hall Academy Course Outline 2005-2006

Religious Studies II Miss Maryann T. DeLuca

TRIMESTER I TOPICS INTERDISCIPLINARY CONNECTIONS

Life in Christ I

Cycles

I-2 Living a Moral Life Mathematics

Visual Perception

3-4 Making Moral Decisions Mathematics

History

English

Health

5-6 Law As a Guide to Freedom Mathematics

History

7-8 Jesus As Moral Guide Health

English

TRIMESTER II

Life in Christ II

1-2 Conscience Formation Health

English History

3-4 Sin And Forgiveness Art

5-6 Respect for the Gift of Sexuality Health

English

Visual Perception

7-8 Respect for Justice and Truth English

Art

History

TRIMESTER III

Ecclesiology (The Church)

1-2 Church: Journey and Wisdom Art

History

Music

3-4 Biblical Images of Church Art

5-6 The Marks of the Church Art

History

7-8 The Church Today Art

Music